Investigation of the characteristics of a chemical HF laser excited by CO2 laser pulses

An investigation was made of the energy and time characteristics and the spectra of a pulse chemical HF laser utilizing the reaction of sulfur hexafluoride with hydrogen and initiated by pulse CO₂ laser radiation. A comparison of the characteristics of HF lasers excited by electric discharges and infrared radiation suggested a possible mechanism of the excitation and dissociation of the SF₆ molecules, as well as further studies of the reactions initiated by high-power infrared radiation.